Archives for July 2022

KOLKATA: After recovering cash worth Rs 21.9 crore six days ago, the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday found Rs 27.9 crore and jewellery from another apartment in Belgharia near Kolkata owned by the model-cum-actor Arpita Mukherjee.

She is the close aide of arrested Trinamool heavyweight and Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, who was arrested in an alleged teacher recruitment scam in state schools.

The central agency, which is probing into the money trail in the recruitment scam, brought currency counting machines to assess the volume of cash, which is suspected to be proceeds of crime of the alleged irregularities.

The investigators took more than 12 hours to count the currency notes.

The officials of the investigating agency broke open the door of the apartment on Wednesday morning and started the search operation.

“We found cash in the apartment owned by Arpita. The recovery is followed by leads provided by Arpita during her interrogation,” said an ED official.

The investigators are still ascertaining the value of the gold jewellery, believed to be in kgs, they added.

The money and gold were found five days after the agency seized more than Rs 21 crore in cash, besides jewellery and foreign exchange from another flat of Mukherjee in south Kolkata’s Tollygunge area, following which she was arrested.

In all, nearly Rs 50 crore in cash has been seized so far, officials said.

ED officials on Wednesday conducted coordinated raids at various properties at Rajdanga in south Kolkata and Belgharia in the northern fringes of the city.

During questioning, Mukherjee informed the ED about those properties, officials said.

ED sleuths had to break open a door to get into the two flats in Belgharia’s Rathtala locality as the keys to open them could not be spotted, they said.

Several “vital” documents were also found in the flats during a search, the official said.

Chatterjee, a powerful minister in Mamata Banerjee’s government and the secretary-general of Trinamool Congress, was arrested on Saturday after the cash was found at Mukherjee’s Tollygunge flat.

The CBI, as directed by the Calcutta High Court, is probing the alleged irregularities committed in the recruitment of Group-C and D staff as well as teachers in government-sponsored and aided schools on recommendations of the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC).

The ED is tracking the money trail in the scam.

Chatterjee was the education minister when the alleged irregularities took place.

New Delhi,: Media must confine itself to honest journalism and not use it as a tool to expand its influence and business interests, said Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana on Tuesday.

Ramana said a media house with “other business interests” becomes vulnerable to external pressures and often business interests prevail over the spirit of independent journalism which compromises democracy.

Asserting that independent journalism is the “backbone of democracy , the CJI a former journalist– also urged the stakeholders to introspect why the standards here are not considered good enough for international recognition and laurel in the field of journalism.

He was speaking at the launch of Gulab Chand Kothari’s book titled ‘The Gita Vijnana Upanishad’. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla presided over the event.

Last week, the CJI had raised similar concerns and said agenda driven debates and kangaroo courts being run by media are detrimental to the health of democracy.

These recent remarks by Ramana assume significance following the backlash to a verdict earlier this month on former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s comments on Prophet Mohammad, which the Supreme Court said had stoked communal tension across the country.

When a media house has other business interests, it becomes vulnerable to external pressures. Often, the business interests prevail over the spirit of independent journalism. As a result, democracy gets compromised, Ramana said on Tuesday.

Journalists are the eyes and the ears of the people. It is the responsibility of media houses to present facts. Especially in the Indian social scenario, people still believe that whatever is printed is true. All I want to say is that the media must confine itself to honest journalism without using it as a tool to expand its influence and business interests, he said.

While the country’s senior-most judge acknowledged the presence of journalists who are equally enthused in today’s media , he remarked that when a brilliant story filed by a journalist is killed at the desk, it is thoroughly demoralising.

He said the true nature of a media house would be assessed and appropriate conclusions drawn from their conduct during testing times as he recollected that only media houses without business baggage, were able to fight for democracy during the dark days of Emergency .

CJI Ramana also said there was no systemic support for journalists in the country and neither was there an award which was comparable to the Pulitzer or many Pulitzer winning journalists.

New Delhi: Firms run by tycoons Mukesh Ambani, Sunil Bharti Mittal and Gautam Adani bid about Rs 1.45 lakh crore to buy fifth-generation (5G) airwaves on the opening day of India’s largest-ever spectrum auction on Tuesday.

Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the response on the first day of the auction exceeded all expectations and will surpass the records of 2015, when revenue collection from auction stood at Rs 1.09 lakh crore.

Even the 700 MHz band, which had not seen any takers in the 2016 and 2021 auctions, received bids this time. As per information put out by the telecom department, in the coveted 700 MHz band, provisional bids worth Rs 39,270 crore were received on day-one of auction, industry watchers said.

All four applicants — Ambani’s Reliance Jio, Mittal’s Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and an Adani group firm “actively” participated in the auction of the 5G spectrum, which offers ultra-high speeds (about 10 times faster than 4G), lag-free connectivity, and can enable billions of connected devices to share data in real-time.

As per the process, it will not be known until the close which company got how much of airwaves. All the radiowaves sold on day one were at the reserve price.

Describing the participation by four bidders as ‘strong’, the minister said bids worth Rs 1.45 lakh crore came in on day one. The auction saw healthy participation, he said, adding the response shows that the industry has turned from its difficult time caused by litigation.

“Now industry is getting converted to sunrise industry…Bids of about Rs 1,45,000 crore show that the industry is moving towards positive territory, now new investments will come, service quality will improve, and new technology will be introduced,” the minister said.

The bidding and demand seen on the first day is over 80 per cent more than government’s internal estimates of Rs 80,000 crore. The minister acknowledged that response had gone “far beyond our expectations”. He added that going by the current participation levels, auctions would surpass the budgeted provisions.

The government, he said, will allocate the spectrum in record time and 5G services are expected to start rolling out by September-October timeframe. The target is to allocate the spectrum by August 14-15, he said.

Four rounds of bidding were held on the opening day, with mid and high-end bands seeing keen interest. Bids were received for 7 out of 9 bands with more than half of the total bids (in value terms) coming in from 3,300 megahertz band – which is for 5G communications. As much as Rs 78,550 crore worth of bids were made for spectrum in the 3,300 MHz band, market experts analysing DoT data said.

The 700 MHz band, which is being widely used by the telcos in the West for a cost-efficient deployment, received Rs 39,270 crore worth of provisional bids while millimetre wave band 26 GHz, which allows for ultra-high-speed mobile broadband services, was the third most sought after band with bids worth Rs 14,632.50 crore.

No bids were received for 800 MHz and 2,300 MHz bands.

In addition to powering ultra-low latency connections, which allow downloading full-length high-quality video or movie to a mobile device in a matter of seconds (even in crowded areas), fifth generation or 5G would enable solutions such as e-health, connected vehicles, more immersive augmented reality and metaverse experiences, life-saving use cases, and advanced mobile cloud gaming, among others.

In all the auction is being held for spectrum in various low (600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz), mid (3,300 MHz) and high (26 GHz) frequency bands.

A total of 72 GHz (gigahertz) of radiowaves worth at least Rs 4.3 lakh crore is up for bidding.

The auction will continue on Wednesday, and is likely to conclude tomorrow itself.

Asked how much will the bids go beyond Rs 1.45 lakh crore levels seen on day one, the minister said, “It looks like it will be at that level, but nothing can be said till the auction is ongoing”.

The minister assured that consumers will be able to experience 5G services in many cities by 2022-end.

“Spectrum is basic raw material for telecom. Good spectrum can improve telecom services. In coming months and years, quality of service will improve significantly,” Vaishnaw said, adding India’s indigenous 5G stack too will be ready in a few months.

Prashant Singhal, EY Global TMT Emerging Markets Leader, said the first day of spectrum auction was in line with the expectations, particularly when it came to 3,300 MHz and 26 GHz bands.

“It clearly highlights that coveted 5G spectrum is much in demand. Bidding in the 700 MHz band was surprising considering the spectrum price. However, it is reflective of the need to provide pan-India coverage for 5G, especially in the rural areas,” Singhal said.

There is no excess demand in any of the bands, Singhal said, adding if the trend continued, the bidding is expected to be over as soon as 100 per cent activity is reached.

“The auction is likely to witness higher than market estimates,” he added.

In the auction conducted in 2021 – that had lasted two days – Reliance Jio had picked up spectrum worth Rs 57,122.65 crore, Bharti Airtel bid about Rs 18,699 crore, and Vodafone Idea bought spectrum worth Rs 1,993.40 crore.

Through the pandemic and its impacts, the situation has worsened. Compromised education, lockdown effects on elders, adverse impact on interpersonal relationships, effects on job security and economic fallouts have compounded the mental health situation in the state, as much as across India which has just 0.75 psychiatrists per 1 lakh population against the required 3 per 1 lakh population. This is well below the 6 per-1 lakh population in some developed countries.

Moreover, pre-pandemic figures indicate a mere 0.37% of Karnataka’s budget health expenditure was allocated to mental health. Here too, only 74.4% of the funds allocated to District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) were utilised. There are districts which have exhibited public-private initiatives in an effort to consolidate mental health management programmes. But more inclusive steps involving stakeholders’ are needed.

The Indian Constitution and the Supreme Court point to rights of individuals to mental health. But the reality is far from that.

THE ON-GROUND STATUS
There is a severe scarcity of psychiatrists in the twin districts of Chitradurga and Davanagere. Except two psychiatrists and two counsellors who are working on contract basis, there is no regular recruitment.
In Davanagere, the district has one psychiatrist and one counsellor at District Government Hospital. Along with this, there is a district mental health programme officer at Davanagere, who is recruited on a contract basis and every year his or her appointment is renewed as he or her is recruited under the National Health Mission programme.

The number of patients in private and general hospitals varies from 100 each day to 3000 each month.
In Chitradurga, except a district level mental health programme officer and a counsellor, there are no specialised sanctioned posts at taluk and public health centre (PHC) level. Every month there are about 1,500-2000 cases that are screened at the district hospital.

The Madikeri District Hospital has just one counsellor and a psychiatrist appointed to handle mental illness cases. “There are no appointments of counsellors at PHCs. The team from the district hospital conducts surveillance frequently and visits the taluk and rural health centers for consultation,” says District Health Officer Dr Venkatesh.

The number of private counselling centers is less than a handful. Residents rely on hospitals and clinics in Mysuru or Mangaluru to address mental health issues. Online support is also sought by many. There are no psychiatrists or counsellors appointed in the government taluk hospitals and PHCs in Belagavi. Only one psychiatrist works at the District Hospital.

Senior psychiatrist Dr Bheemsen Takkalaki says, “Mental health problems are huge as per the recent National Mental Health Survey by NIMHANS. The government has brought improvements by appointing psychiatrists in district hospitals but a lot more needs to be done. Awareness needs to be created among people — especially in rural areas — that there are reasons for mental health problems. There are wrong beliefs among people that mental illness is caused by black magic, and about side effects of medicines for mental disorders.”

Despite the introduction of the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) , public health services for mental patients in Dakshina Kannada have not improved. Except for a ward in Wenlock District Hospital, there are no government facilities in the district for mentally ill patients. A clinical psychiatrist with five decades of experience in the field says incidents of families abandoning persons with mental illness is on the rise.

In most cases, affected men reach the beggars rehabilitation home in Pachanady, while women find their way to facilities run by NGOs and missionaries. “Taking care of mentally-ill patients is difficult. But it is the responsibility of families. If they are treated with love and care, they will improve,” says Prof Hilda Rayappa, a social activist.

UDUPI SETS A PPP EXAMPLE
Udupi has better facilities for mental health treatment due to public-private partnership. Psychiatrists from Kasturba Hospital, Manipal and Dr AV Baliga Memorial Hospital, Doddanagudde, have been roped in to conduct screening camps and counselling sessions across Udupi district. Sources say private doctors under this PPP method offer free consultations and issue appropriate medicines.
Psychiatrists from Kasturba Hospital and Dr AV Baliga Memorial Hospital visit various places in the neighbouring regions each month for consultation and treatment.

This ensures psychiatrists are available in all PHCs, CHCs in the district at least once a month.
Parivartana Psycho-Social Rehabilitation Centre in Kota conducts a free screening camp for mental health issues on the first Wednesday of every month. Periodic one-week training is given to doctors at PHCs and CHCs. Even nurses, ASHAs are trained in the district to identify and refer to the mental health issues among the people in the community at the grass root level. Minor issues are managed at the PHC level by doctors trained in counselling skills, while patients with severe mental illness are referred to the district hospital.

There are several mental health private practitioners in the district. Dr Ravindra Munoli, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, KMC, Manipal says substance abuse cases are common of late. There has been an increase in cases pertaining to anxiety and depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ‘‘They come for treatment quite early due to awareness’’ he says.  

STATE GEARING UP
The concept of Mano Chetana clinics at PHCs was started in 2019 and MoUs were signed with Nimhans for assistance and case references.  Randeep D, Commissioner, Health Department, says Mano Chetana clinics are held every Tuesday at PHCs, where trained doctors counsel those seeking help and prescribe medicines.

Since some psychiatric medicines are costly, and fearing this, those seeking help do not approach doctors. Randeep says e-consultation platforms have been created, wherein assistance from experts in Nimhans is being taken. As a pilot, the centres for brain health are being set up in Chikkaballapur, Jayanagar (in Bengaluru) and Kolar.

On whether doctors in PHCs are adequately qualified to prescribe medicines and explain the situation to patients, Dr Rajini P, Deputy Director Public Instructions (Mental Health), Karnataka health department, says doctors are MBBS and trained. “You do not need a psychiatrist for common psychological problems. Mostly, a person just needs someone to talk to. If you do not treat a patient at the PHC, then the burden on institutes like NIMHANS increases. With this being the aim, the NMHP was launched. Karnataka is the first state to have an integrated mental health centre.”

She says counselling and observation are done over two weeks, after which if the person is not improving then signs of biological problems become visible and Mano Chetana centres help.
Dr KV Trilokchandra, Special Commissioner, Health, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), says the brain health initiative was taken up by NIMHANS to identify people with mental health needs.

Doctors in the PHCs have been sensitised to identify those needing help when they come for health issues. A protocol on how to handle patients has also been laid out. There are many psychosomatic and hypochondriasis cases. So far one batch of doctors in Bengaluru, in the south zone, has been trained by NIMHANS to address such cases. The training is now being extended to other zones and PHCs.

THE SHIVAMOGGA EXAMPLE FOR IMPROVEMENT
Shivamogga has had more number of psychiatrists over the past several decades. Late Dr Ashok Pai was instrumental in setting up Karnataka State Mental Health Task Force in 2013. As per that, two programmes — Manochaitanya and Manasadhara — were implemented. The district has 22 psychiatrists, including six in government hospitals and four in Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences. District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Rajesh Suragihalli says, “Every Tuesday is termed ‘Super Tuesday’ when two government psychiatrists visit two taluk headquarters every week to provide medical help for both neurotic and psychotic disorders.”  The district has 20 counsellors and social workers who visit schools, colleges, workplaces like garments and other such places where more number of women work to listen to their problems and extend counselling services. The counsellors have been regularly visiting the Central jail, juvenile homes, industries and factories, says the DHO. All PHC medical officers have been imparted training for initial medical diagnosis and to provide medical help for neurotic problems.Shivamogga has made significant contributions in mental health from early 1980s. Because of a robust set-up, Shivamogga gets cases from lesser equipped neighbouring districts of Chikkamagaluru, Davanagere, Haveri, Ballari, Chitradurga, and Dharwad.

New Delhi: The Election Commission has asked the rival factions of the Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde, to submit documents by August 8 in support of their claims on the election symbol of the political outfit.

Election Commission sources said the two sides have been asked to submit documents, including letters of support from the legislative and organisational wings of the party and the written statements of the rival factions.

They said the requirement were made in line with the Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

Earlier this week, the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena had written to the Commission seeking allocation of the party’s ‘bow and arrow’ election symbol to it, citing the recognition granted to them in the Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra Assembly.

The Shiv Sena split last month when more than two-thirds of the party’s MLAs withdrew their support from the Maharashtra government led by Uddhav Thackeray, throwing their lot with Shinde.

Shinde was sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister on June 30 with support of the BJP.

On Tuesday last, at least 12 of the 18 Shiv Sena members in the Lok Sabha expressed no confidence’ in floor leader Vinayak Raut and declared Rahul Shewale as their floor leader.

Lok Sabha Speaker recognised Shewale as the leader the same day.

To ensure that neither faction is deprived of information, the poll panel has also directed exchange of documents submitted by the two groups over the past two days.

This is the initial step, checking may come much later, explained a former EC official.

The claim over the symbol assumes significance as the Supreme Court had on Wednesday directed the Maharashtra State Election Commission to notify elections to local bodies within two weeks.

Elections are due in several civic bodies in Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which would indicate which Sena faction gets the popular support.

Earlier, the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena had written to the EC, requesting it to hear its views before making any decision on representations for claims over the party name and its poll symbol.

New Delhi: A woman was allegedly raped by two railway employees in a room at the New Delhi station, the national transporter said on Saturday. Four railway employees, including two who stood guard outside the room, have been arrested.

All the four accused work in the electrical department, the Railways said.

The woman, who was found on platform 8-9 on Friday, narrated her ordeal to officials and they informed the Railway Protection Force (RPF), it said.

The woman told the officials that she has been separated from her husband for the last one year and is engaged in a court case for divorce. Around two years back, she came in contact with a man through a common friend. The man told her that he is a railway employee and can arrange a job for her too, it said.

Both of them continued talking on the phone. On July 21, the accused invited her to his house for a party to celebrate his son’s birthday and for buying a new house, according to the Railways.

He picked up the woman from Kirti Nagar metro station around 10.30 pm and brought her to platform 8-9 at the railway station. He asked her to sit in a hut for electrical maintenance staff, the national transporter said.

Later, the man came to the hut along with his friend and bolted it from inside. The two sexually assaulted the woman one after another. Two accomplices of the accused facilitated the assault by guarding the room from outside, it said.

All the four accused have been arrested. They were produced before a local court, which sent them to judicial custody, the Railways said.